Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) determination in disposable baby diapers with the application of natural deep eutectic solvent

Abstract

In this work a new method involving solvent extraction of porous membrane-packed solid samples (SE-PMSS) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been developed for the determination of six polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and five polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxines (PCDDs) in disposable baby diapers. In that aim, a terpenoid-based natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) composed of carvone and camphor in a 1:1 M ratio was used. The extraction process consisted on a first sealing step of the homogenized whole diaper inside a polypropylene bag. The bag was then immersed in a proper amount of NADES and agitated. After that, measurements were carried out injecting the NADES with the extracted analytes directly into the GC–MS system. Previously, a design of experiment was performed employing a Box Behnken design (BBD) to calculate the optimum variables of the extraction process. With the optimum values, the method was validated obtaining good analytical features such as low limits of detection (0.065–0.60 µg/g) and limits of quantification (0.22–2.0 µg/g). Relative recoveries ranging between 84 and 114 % and relative standard deviations under 15 % for all the analytes. Finally, the green character of this method was evaluated employing the tools complementary green analytical procedure index (ComplexGAPI) and analytical greenness metric for sample preparation (AGREEprep).